Garment bag



Aug. 12, 1952 l. L. BRAVERMAN GARMENT BAG 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed July 24, 1951 INVENTOR Jew/v6 A 5/?4l/E/V/"14/ BY MM ///Z/7A/f/S Aug. 12, 1952 1. BRAVERMAN 2,606,636

GARMENT BAG Filed July 24, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1 INVENTOR. .27 U/A/G'. A 5/P41/Ee/144A/ BY WW vframe construction for supporting the .=bag"an'd the c'ontentsthereof.

Patented Aug. 12, 1952 I UNITED rsr r-ss PATENT OFFICE ii ARMENT BAG A I rving-i L1 Brailerman lBrooklyn, N. Y. Applicati on lfily 24, 1951, Serial N0. 238,318 10 Claims. (Chico-43} :This invention relates-to improvements-minariment bags; l

" one object of the present inventionsis the provision of a Jgarmentib'a-gi having Lari P improved Another object of the present invention is the provision of an,impr-o-ved spreaderframe for a -garment hag lrthat -is of simplified -arrd durable construction, lightin weight and economical to i manufacture.

*Another. object of the present invention -is the provision ofa -ga'rm-ent-l bag having an improved frame construction inwh'ich the' fra'rne isprovided :with means for at-tachmentto bothiaxcarrying handle and a supporting hangen ior "supporting the garment. iba'g a-n'd the contents thereof.

iAnother object of the presentf inventicnis the provision 'efan" improved garment bag and frame therefor in "which the frame may-he assembled 'to the: bag" with extreme zease byja' relatively: unskilled person; and in "which th'e frame construction is inherently selfcompensating -forvariations in the positioning 3 of the ii complehient-ary portions-hf the "-bag to 'provide iori such ease of assembly of the frame to the'hag; I

Yet another object oi -the present invention i the }provision "of -an improved garment"= bag in which 'itnesl-ide fastener is securd to =of the bag in an iinprove'd manner w provide guide and w en-forced support for the operating tab and to provide fdr the ease of -6peration thereof I The above and :otherat} eet's, features aarid ad- *Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1- is a perspective View of the garnient bag aceording to the present'iinventionin its unfolded "condition; I

Fig. 2 is aiiperspective viewpi the garment bag in its folded eondition;

Fig. 3 is-La fragmentary -sectional:view takenon Fig. 4 is "a f 'ragmentary sectionalviewltaken on Fig-fi ls a fragmentary sectional viewftak'en on Fig; 1 6 is a fragmentary ls-ecticnal View. taken on Fig. 'T-is a fragmentaryrsectional view itaken on 13 Referring to -the drawin gs and more; particug' arment 15 st'rips'ztfl are providedcnithe top wall- Hi to rte-enfbrcethe portions of: the bag: l'flthat'arenor-mally subject to the greatest amount of wear, The front :wa'll 2 i1: is provided witha closure flap ,por-

"tion 32 which isadapted to be unfastened from the wall- 20 to gain accessto compartment in -the.1interior:of the bag it. :For this purpose the portion: 32 i providedrwith a ,slide fastener -34 having; an operating. tab 36. It will be understood thatithe slide' fa'stener. 34 has a: longitudinal strip "portion: 38 thereof suitablysecured to a peripheral portions? of ;the bag lt -and a complementary stripportion Mcsuitab-lyj secured to'the adj acent peripheralgportionszof the front waltzll, the operating tab 3'6 .being: effective 2 for fastening and -untastening theflap .portion 32-z to the front wall 120. :The strip ;po rtion-"38. of theasli'defastener 34 thatiis secured to:the;f1api32 'is:secured thereto in 'a' conventional manner; that isithevstrip portion-i38 is superp'osedion the: periphery of fiap 32 -of thexgarment bag l0 :andstitched thereto by lines'of stitdliingidflasshown- Fig. 3. The strip portion 421 however is foldedover 'upon itself upon a longitudinal median lineand the portion Medjacent to the Wa1l'20 is stitched thereto by a line oi stitching '46 as shown in Fig.13. V 'A binding strip :48 of plastic oranyother, 's'uitalolesmaterial is suitably secured in doubled .over'fashion asrby the linesof stitchingil t to the above describedsecurementof the strip portion? and'its associated portions 4ofwa1il20. It willthus be'seen that the binding strip 48,- and the adjacent: end::portions lot :the :wall .20 :and the adj acent; portion -:of the s'tripmortionr: "1 ing withintheebinding48,,pro-

"Vid'B'tBJ. guide ianctire -enforced support; for; the :op- -erating tabt3fi an'd facilitates the e'aserofioperation thereof. It will .be .understood that the slide fastener 34 is conventional in all respects except thatthe longitudinal strip portion ltof said slide "fastener is securedtozthe adjacent portionsiofithe walhZtt in aidoubled over fashion as' bestsh'own in 'Eigityand as describediab'ove.

separate tcoinpartment '50;:at;the lower; part, to *-*wliichl access is gained from the outside or the iaeodee garment bag. The compartment 50 is defined by the wall 52, which is secured at one end to the bottom front corner 54 of the garment bag and at the other end to an intermediate portion of the front wall 29, and the lower part of the front wall 29. The wall 52 has its sides suitably secured to the front side corners of the bag ID as by means of the same line of stitching that secures bindings 28 to the corners of the bag. To gain access to the compartment 59 there is provided a slide fastener 56 transversely secured to an intermediate portion of the front wall 20, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be seen that the compartment 59 in no way interferes with the contents of the compartment I, it :being understood that said compartments are distinct and separate. also be noted that the compartment 5I extends uninterruptedly for the full length of the bag for the reception of garments in their extended condition.

The frame structure I4 formed of metal or other suitable material comprises a spreader frame member 59 of rectangular outline having integral spaced sides 58 and ends 60. The spreader frame 59 fits the garment bag I0 near the top thereof and has a rectangular outer periphery corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the envelope or casing I2. Although the spreader frame is shown as being of substantially rectangular contour it will be understood that such frame may be of other suitable contours. -The spaced sides 58 of the frame 59 are provided with downwardly looped portions 62 centrally positioned intermediate the ends thereof, said looped portions being adapted for a purpose to be described in detail hereinafter. The frame structure I4 also comprises a transverse second frame member 64 having an integral upper horizontal member 66, an integral lower horizontal member 68 and connecting portions I6, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper horizontal member 66 is provided with an upwardly extending centrally positioned looped portion I2, said looped portion being for a purpose to be described in detail hereinafterr ber 64, and more particularly the lower horizontal member 68 thereof, is adapted to provide a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers II in laterally spaced disposition. .The frame member 64 is secured to the spreader frame 59, the end portions of the upper horizontal member 66 being adapted to be received in the downwardly extending looped portion 62 of the spreader frame 59. The frame member 64 is provided with an additional shaft I4 parallel to the support shaft or member 68 and spaced therefrom. The additional shaft I4 is secured to the connecting portions I0 in any suitable manner, as by welding. It will be understood that the additional shaft I4 is effective to prevent the disengagement from the support shaft 68 of garment hanger hooks supported thereon.

The garment bag- I0 is provided with a pairof elongatedspaced openings I6 extending through the top wall I6 of the bag and a circular aperture I8 centrally positioned between theopenings I6. The openings I6 and the aperture "I8 are provided with suitable grommets I1 and I9, respectively, secured to the top wall I6 of the garment bag ID. The garment bag is provided with a carrying handle 89 fabricated from any suitable material and having looped end portions 82, said carrying handle beingadapted to be con- The frame mem- It will nected to the frame structure I4. The'carrying handle which is disposed externally. of; the bag 4 and at the top thereof is provided with a tr'i-'- angular shaped link element 84 at each end of the handle. For securing the frame 59 and concomitantly the transverse frame member 64 to the link elements 84 there are provided hook elements 86 which pass through the pair of spaced openings I6 which extend through the top wall I6, and are adapted to secure the ends of the carrying handle 80 to the spreader frame 59. To this end hook elements 86, which are generally U-shaped, have their bight portions embracing the vertex portions 88 of the link elements 84 and each of the end portions of the elements 86 are bent over spaced portions 99 of the spreader frame 59 immediately adjacent the downwardly extending looped portions 62, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. At the same time the upwardly extending looped portion 12 of the frame member 64 will extend through the aperture I8 in the top wall I6, said looped portion having secured thereto a supporting hanger 92 having a hooked portion 94. It will be understood that the lower end of the supporting hanger 92 has a portion thereof bent over the looped portion I2, said con- .nection providing for substantially universal movement of the hanger 92 relative to the looped portion I2.

It willbe observed that the spreader frame 59 and the transverse frame member 64 are each of integral and endless construction and are secured to each other without the use of extraneous fastening means. It will be noted that the spaced sides 58 of the spreader frame 59 and its attached connections to the ends of the handle 80, namely the hook members 86 and the link elements 84 have a range of relative transverse movement with respect to the top wall I6 of the bag and the upper horizontal member 66 of the frame member 64. It will be understood that the spacedsides 58 of the frame 59 have a range of movement'towards each other due to the upper horizontal member 66 being relatively loosely secured in thedownwardly extending looped portions 62 of the spreader frame 59. The above referred to-relative movement of the spaced sides 58 of the frame 59 and its associated connecting means to the ends of the handle 80 provides a frame construction which is inherently self-compensating for variations in the positioning of the complementary portions of the bag, namely the pair of spaced openings I6, to provide for extreme ease of assembly of the frame I4 to the garment bag II]. It will thus be seen that the exact spacing of the openings I6 is in no wise critical due to the aforedescribed self-compensating'feature of the frame structure whereby the frame may be assembled to the bag with ease by a relatively unskilled person. A reinforcing strip I5 of any suitable material is secured in any conventional manner to the underside of the top wall I6, as by means of the grommets TI- and I9, said strip being effective to reinforce the area of the underside of the top wall adjacent to the attachment provisions aforedescribed.

The garment bag I0 is adapted to be folded along a median transverse line and secured in such folded condition for ease of carrying, as will be readily understood. For this purpose there is provided apair of male fastener elements96 secured to the upper part of the front wall 20 and a pair of complementary female fastener elements 98 suitably affixed to the lower end of the back wall 22 of the bag. It will thus be seen by folding the bag I9 along a median transverse line and snapping the fastener elements 98. ,over the "5 comple'ni'entary fastener elements 96 the Earmentbag-wm be neatly secured in its folded'confditicn as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

""It wi ll'beappreciated that the garment bag "embodying-the frame structure I4 provides-both a carrying handle 80 and a supporting hanger 92 "forsupporting'the garment bag I0 andthe contents thereof. Thus the garment bag may be =supported-=bythe hanger 92, or alternatively by *the "carryinghandle 80, it being appreciated that the hanger-92' is the normal support for thebag and its contents in a clothes closet orin an auto- "mobiIe,-- and-that the carrying handle 80 is the normal-support for carrying the bag by hand. It isto 'be'understoodthat the carrying handleBO,

hanger-92, I and the associated frame structure "support both the casing l2 and the contents of th-e =bag,the-casing itself having no substantial stress put upon it.

-It*'will' thus be-seen that-the above describe garment 'bag It is provided with an improved *frame'construction M for supporting the T gar- "ment-=bag and the contents thereof The improved spreader frame H is of simplified and durable construction, light in Weight consistent 'with strength, and economical 'to manufacture.

The improved' frame construction 14 in associa- '-tion'with-the garment bag isprovided-with means for attachment to both the carrying handle 80 and asupporting hanger 92, both the "carrying handle *and supporting hanger being eachadapted for supporting the garment -bag andthecontents thereof. As has beenpointed out in detailabove, the improved garment bag and a'ssociated framestructure may be assembled with extreme ease by a relatively unskilled person, this ease of assembly being obtained by the -inherently self-compensating frame con- "struet-ion for variations inthe positioning of the complementary portionsof the bag. It willbe notedthat the lower horizontal member 68, of

W-hilethere is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it willbemanifest to those skilled in the art that-various modifications and rearrangemer ts of the parts may be made withoutdepartlug-from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limite'dtothe; particular form herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

'Havingthus described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

L'A garment bag comprising a flexible envelope having a supporting hanger, a handle and a'plurality of apertures at the top thereof, and an inner spreader frame positioned in the topportion of saidenvelope and adapted to support said "envelope and the contents thereof, said frame comprising a skeleton frame member having an 'outerlfperipherycorresponding to the cross-secttiiinahshape of said envelope, and a transverse frame'inember adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers, said transverse frame member having an"intermediate portion thereof extendi'n'gj'throu'gh a central aperture in the top of said envelope, said intermediate portion being secured tdaidlfsuppbrtiiig hanger, and means'extending fio'mf the extremities of said transverse frame "member through 'spa'cedapertures in the top 'of 6 said envelope, saidtransverse rrame member having a bottom shaft extending" for the full length-ofsai'd last 'm'entione'dframe'memben said shaftbeing -adapted-to support a plurality of garment hangersin laterally spaced disposition, and 'saidhandle having means at the ends thereof for securement to saidmeans of the transverse frame member whereby said bag "and the contents thereof may be supportedbyeithersaid handle or saidsupporting hanger. I A-"garment bag comprising a flexible env'elope havinga supporting hanger,a handle and a plurality of apertures at the top thereof, and 'anfinner spreader framepositioned in'the top portion of said envelope and adapted to support said envelope and the contents thereof; said frame comprising askeleton frame member having an outer periphery corresponding to the crosssectional shape-of said envelope, and a transverse frame member adapted to support a plurality of garment'hang'ers,- said transverse frame member havin'g an intermediate portion thereof "extending through a central aperture in the'top "of said envelope,said intermediate portion being secured to said supporting hanger, and meanjs fextending from the extremities of said" transverse frame member through spaced apertures in the top of said-envelope, said transverse frame member having a bottoms'haft extending for the'full length of said last mentioned framemember, said shaft being adapted to support a plurality'of 'garmenthangers in laterally spaced disposition, and said handle having means at the ends thereof for securement to said means of the transverse frame-member whereby said bag and the contents'thereof may be supported by either said handleor said supporting hanger, said transverse frame member having an additional shaft parallel to said support shaft and slightly spaced therefrom;said-additional shaft being effective to prevent the disengagement from said support shaft of garment hanger hooks supported thereon.

3. Agarment bag comprising a flexible envelope having a supporting hanger, a handle and a plurality ofapertures at thetop thereof, and an'inner spreader frame positionedin the "top portion of said-envelope and adapted to support said envelope and the contents thereof, said "frame comprising'a skeleton'frame member having an outer" periphery corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said envelope, and a transverseframe member adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers, said transverse frame member having an intermediate portion thereof extending through a' central aperture in the top of said envelope, said intermediate portion beingsecured to saidsupporting hangergand means-extending from the extremities of'said transverse frame member through spaced apertures in the top of said envelope, said transverse frame member having a bottom shaft extending for the full length of'said last mentioned frame 'member, saidshaft being adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers in laterally spaced disposition, and said handle having means at the ends'thereof for securement to said means ofthe transverse frame member whereby'said bag and the contents thereof may be supported by either said handle or said supporting hanger, said transverse frame member being of integral and endless construction.

4. A garment bag comprising a flexible envelope having a supporting hanger, a handle and -aplurality of apertures at the top thereof; and

tures inthe top of said envelope,saidtransverse framemember having a bottom shaft extending for the full length of said last mentioned frame member, said shaft being adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers in laterally spaced disposition, and said handle having means at the ends thereof for securement to said means of the transverse frame member whereby said bag and the contents thereof may be supported by'either saidhandle or said supporting hanger, said transverse frame member being of integral and endless construction and having an additional shaft parallel to said bottom support shaft and slightly spaced therefrom, said additional shaft being effective to prevent the disengagement from said bottom support shaft of garment hanger hooks supported thereon.

5. In a garment bag having a top provided with a pair of spaced openings therethrough, a frame structure disposed within the bag at the top thereof and comprising a first frame fitting the bag near the top thereof and having spaced sides and ends adjacent the sides and ends, respectively, of the bag, a second frame extending transversely between said spaced sides of said first frame and concomitantly extending between the opposite sides of the bag, said second frame having integral upper and lower horizontal members, said lower member providing a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers, a carrying handle disposed externally of the bag at the top thereof, and a pair of connections between the ends of the handle and-said first frame, said connections extending through said openings, respectively, in the top of the bag, said connections comprising hook members attached to intermediate portions of said first frame and link elements secured to said hook members and the extremitiesof said carrying handle, said spaced sides of said first frame having downwardly looped portions intermediate the ends thereof, said downwardly looped portions being adapted to support said second frame. I

6. In a garment bag having a top provided with a pair of spaced openings therethrough, a frame structure disposed within the bag at the top thereof and comprising a first frame fitting the bag near the top thereof and having spaced sides and ends adjacent the sides and ends, respectively, of the bag, a second frame extending transversely between said spaced sides of said first frame and concomitantly extending between the opposite sides of the bag, said second frame having integral upp r and lower horizontal members, said lower member providing a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers, a carrying handle disposed externally of the bag at the top thereof, and a pair of connections between the ends of the handle and said first frame, said connections extending through said openings, respectively, in the top of the bag, said second 'to prevent the disengagement from said lower horizontal member of garment hanger hooks supported thereon. I

7, In a garment bag having a top provided with a' pair of spaced openings therethrough and. a

central aperture positioned between said spaced openings, a frame structure disposed within the bag at the top thereof and comprising afirst frame fitting the bag near the top thereof and having spaced sides and ends adjacent the sides and ends, respectively, of the bag, a second frame extending transversely between said spaced sides of said first frame and concomitantly extending between the opposite sides of the bag, said second frame having integral upper and lower horizontal members, said upper member having an upwardly extending looped portion extending through said central" aperture, a supporting hanger secured to said looped portion, said lower member providing a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers, a carrying handledisposed pair of connections between the ends of the handle and said first frame, said connections extending through said openings, respectively, in the top of the bag. v

8. In a garment bag having a top provided with a pair of spaced openings therethrough and a central aperture positioned between said spaced openings, a frame structure disposed within the bag at the top thereof and comprising a first frame fitting the bag near the top thereofand having spaced sides and ends adjacent the sides and ends, respectively, of the bag, a second frame extending transversely between said spaced sides of said first frame and concomitantlyextending between the opposite sides of the bag, said second frame having integral upper and lower horizontal members, said upper member having an upwardly extending looped portion extending through said central aperture, a supporting hanger secured to said looped portion, said lower member providing a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers, a carrying handle disposed externally of the bag at the top thereof, and a pair of connections-between the ends of the handle and said first frame, said connections extending through said openings, respectively, in the top of the bag, said connections comprising hook members attached to intermediate portions of said first frame and link elements secured to said hook members and the extremities of said carrying handle.

9. In a garment bag having a top provided with a pair of spaced openings therethrough and'a central aperture positioned between said spaced openings, a frame structure disposed Within the bag at the top thereof and comprising a first frame fitting the bag near the top thereof and having spaced sides and ends adjacent the sides and ends, respectively, of the bag, a second frame extending transversely between said spaced sides of said first frame and concomitantly extending between the opposite sides of the bag, said second frame having integral upper and lower horizontal members, said upper member having an upwardly extending looped portion extending through said central aperture, a supporting hanger secured to said looped portion, said lower member providing a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers, a carrying handle disposed externally of the bag, at the top thereof, and a pair of connections between the ends of the handle and said first frame, said connections extend ing through said openings, respectively, in the top of the bag, said spaced sides of said first frame having downwardly extending looped portions intermediate the ends thereof, and said second frame having its upper member supported by said downwardly looped portions whereby said bag and the contents thereof may be supported by either said handle or said supporting hanger.

10. In a garment bag having a top provided with a pair of spaced openings therethrough, a frame structure disposed within the bag at the top thereof and comprising a first frame fitting the bag near the top thereof and having spaced sides and ends adjacent the sides and ends, respectively, of the bag, a second frame extending transversely between said spaced sides of said first frame and concomitantly extending between the opposite sides of the bag, said second frame having integral upper and lower horizontal members, said lower member providing a bar support for a plurality of garment hangers, a carrying handle disposed externally of the bag at the top thereof, and a pair of connections between the 10 ends of the handle and said first frame, said connections extending through said openings, respectively, in the top of the bag, said first frame being integral and of generally rectangular outline and said second frame being integral.

IRVING L. BRAVERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

